# 2000 Civic Lx low compression/engine 3 misfire code

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 12, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858 "2018-07-12T02:58:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tanner\_Ross](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tanner_ross/32/12684_2.png) [@Tanner\_Ross](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Ross)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858/1 "2018-07-12T02:58:12Z")

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I found a cylinder 3 misfire code on my civic recently and ran a compression test. Cylinder 1&4 were at around 110 psi and cylinder 2&3 were at about 90 psi. I’m not too sure if I should be driving it like that or even how to fix/diagnose the problem. Any help would be much appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858/2 "2018-07-12T03:00:32Z")

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Do a leak-down test on the cylinders.

Tester

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tanner\_Ross](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tanner_ross/32/12684_2.png) [@Tanner\_Ross](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Ross)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858/3 "2018-07-12T03:06:35Z")

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I have also have had an oil leak for the past month or two

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858/4 "2018-07-12T03:45:11Z")

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Recheck the compression by doing a wet test. This means a small squirt of oil into each cylinder before the compression is tested.

If the numbers go up a fair amount then there’s a cylinder issue, Worn/seized rings, scored cylinders, way out of spec cylinders, etc.

If the numbers stay about the same then it’s a cylinder head valve issue. This is quite often due to tight valve lash.  
However, given the fact that all 4 cylinders are way down I suspect you have a ring problem and that means bad news.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2018, 4:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-civic-lx-low-compression-engine-3-misfire-code/120858/5 "2018-07-12T04:07:47Z")

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With all four cylinders having low compression I suspect that either your compression gauge is leaking or inaccurate or the timing belt is off by a few teeth.